The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-13
THE INDIANAPOLIS JouRNAL WEDNESDAY. APRIL IS. 1887

duce all these things SO abundautlv that &c Will
not only have a family supply. but surp 'ns 10
sell to MS grocer or to ANY good customer tnai
he can find, and in nosotker way will he fin so
mckles make a muckle.' is true on the far u.
The "by products" of the farm are many al d
valuable, and the path TO prosperity must VIM
through the orchard, past the poustry-vard. along
the border of the garden and truck patch,
the pgsty ana the sheepfo fold and out to the
pasture and the sugar bush.
1t makes world of difference whether or not
these small sources of supply for home wants
and of income well watched and utilized,
and there seems TO be double value TO the
money obtained from them, for there is money
saved By abundantly supplying home wants and
the store bills will be greatly reduced or entirely
wanting, and then the sale of the surplus will
put money into the pocket. The neglect of these
things is largely matter of habit, and parity
from the want or a little headwo and Jack
of appreciation of their value 1t would be an
excellent thing if every farmer would do just
what the men at the head of our government do
at the beginning of each year-ihat is, make
careful estimate of the money needed for the en-
SUNG year and of the revenues Of the farm. and
then compare them and whether the reye-
nues are likely to exceed the expenses. Ii the
matter looks doubtful, either you must plan to
reduce expenses or TO increase the revenues, or
what is better. to 90 both | think any one will
work and manage better when they know Just
what results they striving after than when
working at haphaZard. To have peace of mind
one should live within his income, but if he has
only a vague idea of what that income is likely
to be. he will not know how to adjust his ex-
penditures.
In my own experience it has been the little
things that paid me best. l began farming
without capital bought farm on credit. and
borrowed ST. 900 at 10 per cent interest TO put
up buildings 1t flor bought bare laud), and
looking back now | do not see how it would
have been possible for me to have ever support
ed my large family and paid my debts. had
neglected the little things. But from the very
start there always abundance of eggs,
poultry. butter. milk, cream. fruit and veeeta-
bles for the family. and such surplus to sell
that store bills were rarely allowed to run. and
as a consequence, the money crops-wheat and
hoes-could be applied to paving the debt, and
when the day of deliveranee came and l could.
like Longfellow's blacksmith, Hook the whole
world in the face. for l owed not any man."
1t was the little things that had the praise rather
than the great ones.
If farmers who are in debt would make it
rule to produce the farm every hing which
they possibly can for the family and reduce
expenses by reducing the area under cultivation,
and Lever pOw that is not in such con-
dition as to make them reasonably sure of pay
ing crop, they would soon find their debts d.
minishing Many farmers of my acqualnt-
ance seem to argue from wrong premises
They say, Il am in debt, and so mus t
run my farm to the full extent of its capacity,
and after / out of debt can bring I'D my
land" So they keep an extra team and hand TO
work 1t; buv extra implements and harness;
neglect all little things: put out a large breadth
of wheat and corn; and IN a majority of cases
the result is that expenses eat the profits. the
ground grows less productive. and after ten years
of this kind of farming they are ready to sell
out and go West"
1t does not take a large increase of income on
the farm to make man prosperous. The farmer
who can lay up 5000 year over all expenses is
soon prosperous. He pay cash for what he
buys and get 1t much cheaper than if he must
ask credit. He is soon in position to improve
his stock. drain his land make any improve
ment which he is will pay But the farmer
who comes out 800 behind this year and little
more the next is handicapped, and if the same
management continues will socn be so loaded
down as to lose ambition, ami work at disad-
vantage all the time. But this subject of debt
is too large for me discuss here. Perhaps /
will take another